China-Russia Naval Patrol Completes Two-Thirds of Possible Circumnavigation of Japan: Expert

Dragon Media News Desk

A China-Russia joint naval patrol group has completed roughly two-thirds of a possible circumnavigation of Japan and is moving northeast near Hokkaido, according to a Chinese military affairs expert.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a statement released on Saturday that four Chinese and Russian naval vessels were proceeding northeast through waters about 300 kilometers southeast of Cape Nosappu in Hokkaido.

According to the Japanese Joint Staff, the flotilla consists of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Type 055 guided-missile destroyer Hull 103, Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Hull 124 and Type 903A comprehensive supply ship Hull 903, along with the Russian Navy’s Steregushchiy-class frigate Hull 343. Japan said it had been monitoring the vessels continuously since mid-July.

The Japanese side said the Type 055 destroyer was sighted about 220 kilometers northeast of Cape Inubo in Chiba Prefecture on July 23, while the other three vessels were detected about 130 kilometers southeast of the cape. All four ships were later confirmed about 300 kilometers southeast of Cape Nosappu on July 25.

According to the Japanese account, the vessels sailed south between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island on July 16, moved northeast from waters southwest of Okinotori on July 19, and passed southeast of Minami Iwo Jima and northeast of Iwo Jima on July 21.

China’s Ministry of National Defense said the joint maritime patrol began after the conclusion of the “Joint Sea-2026” exercise in waters and airspace near Qingdao in East China’s Shandong Province.

The ministry said the patrol was conducted under the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries. Its stated purpose is to jointly respond to security challenges and safeguard regional peace and stability.

Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Sunday that, judging from the vessel-location records released by Japan, the joint naval group had completed roughly two-thirds of a possible circuit around Japan.

Song said the group could continue through either the Tsugaru Strait or the Soya Strait into the Sea of Japan before passing through the Tsushima Strait. Completing a full circumnavigation, he said, would demonstrate the ability of the Chinese and Russian navies to deploy rapidly to relevant waters for joint training and other military operations.

Chinese and Russian warships also conducted a seven-day joint patrol around Japan in October 2021. During that operation, the vessels sailed through the Sea of Japan, the western Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea, crossing several strategically important straits.

Song said the latest joint exercise and patrol were fully consistent with international law. He also reiterated China’s position that Okinotori is a rock rather than an island and therefore cannot generate an exclusive economic zone.

Japan had protested after the Chinese military conducted a live-fire exercise near Okinotori during the China-Russia joint drill and maritime patrol, claiming the area was within its exclusive economic zone.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on July 21 that China had firmly rejected what he described as Japan’s baseless protest.

Lin said that, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Okinotori is a rock rather than an island and is therefore not entitled to an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. He said Japan’s claim to an exclusive economic zone around Okinotori violated international law.

China’s activities on the high seas were fully consistent with international law and international practice, Lin said. He accused Japan of smearing other countries’ lawful activities and promoting the narrative of an external threat to justify accelerated remilitarization and challenge the postwar international order.

Song said the joint patrol also sent a deterrent message to right-wing forces in Japan. He argued that Japan had long acted as a destabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific and had challenged the postwar international order established by the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation.

According to Song, another major objective of the patrol was to strengthen the ability of the Chinese and Russian navies to break through so-called island-chain blockades and operate in strategically important straits.

He said the patrol demonstrated the two navies’ ability to overcome strategic blockades and restrictions at maritime chokepoints. With the modernization of both countries’ defense capabilities, Song argued, the deterrent effect of the so-called first island chain had become largely ineffective.